Vice-mayoralty aspirant, cousin escape death

TWO people, including a vice mayoralty aspirant, survived an attack by motorcycle riding gunmen in Zamboanga City.

The victims were identified as Hershed Alfad and his cousin, Farouk, who is scheduled to file his certificate of candidacy for vice-mayor in Sumisip, Basilan on Friday.

The police said the incident took place around 12:45 p.m. Tuesday in the village of Canelar, 1.2 kilometers north of the city.

Hershed was unscathed while Farouk sustained bruises on his arm. Farouk is the son of Ibrahim Alfad, the former vice mayor of the municipality of Sumisip. He ran for vice mayor in the 2010 national and local elections but lost.

The police said the Alfads were aboard a sports utility vehicle, with Farouk driving, when two men riding tandem on a motorcycle overtook them and opened fire.

The Alfads came from a fitness gym in the village of Canelar and on their way to the city. Farouk said he did not receive any threat on his life before the incident.

He added that he could not also say whether the attempt on his life has connection with his plans to run for vice mayor in the municipality of Sumisip.

But Farouk said he will push through with his plans to run in the 2013 elections.